From 2010 through 2014, Matt Kemp batted third or fourth in the Dodgers’ starting lineup 449 times. With the injury to Justin Turner sidelining the Dodgers’ third baseman indefinitely, it is virtually certain Kemp will be batting third or fourth in the Dodgers’ opening day lineup again this year.

“Who told you that? Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Kemp said with a smile. “I really don’t know the situation and how it’s going to go down. We’ve all had good talks. I know what they expect out of me and I’m going to give them everything I’ve got.”

But Kemp acknowledged the prospect of returning to Los Angeles is beginning to feel more real now with opening day just a week away.

“Yeah, that’s crazy. Yeah, I’m excited,” he said.

“Ever since I’ve been here, just vibing with these guys, they made it easy for me to transition back into this locker room and get in the flow of things. I think, yeah – it feels real. I’m happy it’s real and I’m excited we get to go to L.A. Saturday.”

After Turner was injured Monday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his “initial thought” was to move Cody Bellinger into Turner’s spot in the lineup. That would most likely put Kemp in the cleanup spot.

But Kemp batted third in Thursday night’s game against the Angels with Bellinger behind him in the cleanup spot. That configuration would allow Roberts to alternate right and left-handed batters through at least the first four or five spots in the order.

“I didn’t want to put too much thought into it,” Roberts said. “It was just getting guys in there and getting them their at-bats at the top. I didn’t want to dig too much into lineup construction, think too much into it.

“Obviously Matt’s been a middle-of-the-order guy – three, four – throughout his career. But I think on a particular day given the pitcher, to potentially hit third, fourth, fifth, something like that is a possibility. To set anything in stone now with Matt or any of these guys outside of (Chris) Taylor and (Corey) Seager (batting 1-2), I just don’t think it’s smart.”

Without Turner for the first month of the season (and possibly longer), the Dodgers will be looking to make up for that lost offensive production. Turner led them in batting average and OPS last season. Kemp could be a big part of that given the lack of offense the Dodgers got from the left-field spot most of last season (once Taylor moved to center field).

“It’s hard to replace a guy like him,” Kemp said of Turner. “That’s your 3-hole All-Star. But there’s going to be guys that can step up and fill that role. I think Justin knows that. We know that. I mean, there’s nothing you can do about it now. He has a broke wrist. He’s going to do what he needs to do to get back and when he comes back we’re going to be an even more dangerous lineup.”

In the meantime, the Dodgers might have a 3-hole former All-Star.

“I think I had a really good spring training,” Kemp said. “I feel good, moving around good. It’s easier to hit in a lineup that’s so deep. You’ve got one after another, guys backing up each other. It’s a dangerous lineup no matter how you write it. It’s super dangerous.”

NO TIME

The Dodgers remain reluctant to announce any kind of timeline for Turner’s return from the fractured left wrist he suffered Monday.

“He’s got this big ol’ brace and he’s getting two to three hours of treatment a day as far as what treatment you can do with a fracture,” Roberts said Thursday. “That’s kind of all I’ve got. Haven’t heard anything about a timeline.”

Roberts said the Dodgers are reluctant to put anything out there publicly because everyone heals differently.

NOTES

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark made his annual visit to Dodgers camp on Thursday. … Left-hander Rich Hill pitched in a minor-league game on Tuesday (not Thursday as expected) and threw 80 pitches over six innings. He is scheduled to pitch the middle game of the Freeway Series on Monday in Los Angeles. … Closer Kenley Jansen was expected to pitch against the Angels on Thursday night but he threw in a minor-league game Thursday afternoon instead. Jansen pitched a “one-plus” – four outs. He is expected to pitch Sunday and Monday in the Freeway Series.

Bill Plunkett has covered everything from rodeo to Super Bowls to boxing (yeah, I was there the night Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear off) during a career that started far too long ago to mention and eventually brought him to the OC some time last century (1999 actually). He has been covering Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register since 2003, spending time on both the Angels and Dodgers beats.